A century of experiments and experiences

Abstract

In the last 2000 years, life expectancy has increased from 25 years to about 80 years. The changing worldwide age demographics have led to an inordinate increase of proximal femur fractures (in addition to other fractures). Approximately 150.000 inhabitants of Germany over 65 years of age suffer from fractures at the hip joint requiring acute surgery every year. Besides the difficulties involved in treating such fractures adequately as well as the increase in the number of cases we are now seeing makes it a tremendous challenge to provide the highest quality of surgical care. Frequent concomitant and complicating conditions in hip fracture patients include advanced age, pronounced osteoporosis and multiple morbidity. Fracture type and subsequent selection of stabilization method and implant are only some of the factors that relate to outcomes and complications. In addition to technical considerations, there is enormous economic impact and a requirement for coordination of peri-operative and post-operative care given in order to improve the rate of successful results (Fig. 1.1).